DAOD 5044-4, Family Violence

Introduction
Definition
Overview
Operating Principles
CAF Response
Responsibilities
References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 2003-01-31

Application: This is an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF members).

Supersession:

CFAO 19-42, Family Violence and Abuse
CANFORGEN 055/00, Family Violence in the Canadian Forces

Approval Authority: This DAOD is issued under the authority of the Chief of Military Personnel (CMP).

Enquiries: Director General Health Services (DGHS)

2. Definition

family violence (violence en milieu familial)

An abuse of power within a relationship of family, trust or dependency, and includes many forms of abusive behavior, e.g., emotional abuse, psychological abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, destruction of property, injury to pets, physical assault, sexual assault and homicide.

3. Overview

Context

3.1 Family violence is a complex and destructive social phenomenon that occurs throughout Canadian society. On an individual level, family violence is an extremely serious problem. It poses risk of immediate injury, pain and suffering. If ignored, family violence may become chronic and severe, and may cause long-term physical and psychological damage, and possibly death.

3.2 Family violence within the CAF can have a negative effect on:

operational readiness;
work performance; and
good order and discipline.

Commitments

3.3 The CAF has a number of programs to promote the health and well-being of families of CAF members, foster community cohesion, assist in the prevention of family breakdown, help families in distress and break the cycle of family violence. To address family violence within the families of CAF members, the CAF is committed to:

preventing family violence through education and an understanding of the issues relating to family violence;
establishing procedures for responding to reported incidents of family violence; and
rehabilitating and restoring healthy family units.

4. Operating Principles

Core Principles

4.1 The CAF policy on family violence is based on the following core principles:

the safety of victims is the primary concern;
family violence is not acceptable behavior within the CAF;
CF leadership must play an active role in the prevention of family violence;
all reported incidents of family violence must be acted upon;
all possible assistance and support to victims are provided in a discreet and empathic manner with due regard to family privacy;
the importance of gender dynamics when responding to incidents of family violence is recognized;
confidentiality for all individuals involved in family violence cases, including victims, offenders, family members and those who reported the suspected incidents, is afforded to the maximum extent possible under the law; and
counselling and support services will be offered to the offender as appropriate.

CAF Family Violence Advisory Committee

4.2 The CAF Family Violence Advisory Committee oversees all CAF activities related to family violence. The Committee reports to CMP and consists of the following members or their designates:

civilian representatives of spouses and common law partners of CAF members;
family violence experts from the civilian community;
Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) - Health Promotion;
Canadian Forces Provost Marshal (CFPM);
Chaplain General (Chap Gen);
Director General Health Services;
CFPSA / Director Military Family Services;
Director Quality of Life (DQOL); and
such other persons as CMP may consider appropriate.

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Family Crisis Team

4.3 The family crisis team is a team of local personnel, normally including medical personnel, chaplains, the military police (MP), Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) prevention and intervention coordinators and, as appropriate, professional health and social service workers from the civilian community. Each team has a designated team leader, normally the social work officer, who serves as the focal point for coordinating education and interventions in the matter of family violence.

Education

4.4 Education is a key component of the CF family violence prevention strategy. Education promotes increased awareness of the problem, reduces the tolerance for this type of behavior, fosters appropriate responses to family violence and ensures that victims and their families are aware of the services available.

4.5 Base/wing commanders and commanding officers (COs) shall ensure that CF members and their families are provided regularly with information concerning the dynamics of family violence, its effects upon families and the resources available to assist them. This information may be distributed by:

unit briefings;
family days;
posters, flyers and pamphlets;
base newspaper articles;
base/wing and unit D-Net and Defence Intranet sites;
displays; and
such other methods as considered appropriate.

4.6 The CF shall ensure that continuous professional education on family violence, including the specifics of domestic violence, gender dynamics, prevention and intervention strategies, is made available for medical personnel, chaplains, MP, MFRC prevention and intervention coordinators, and other persons whose duties include responding to incidents of family violence.

Reserve Force Units

4.7 Base/wing commanders supporting Reserve units shall ensure that the members of Reserve Force units have equal access to all information, guidance and publications related to family violence within the CF.

Training

4.8 Within 90 days of assuming command base/wing commanders and COs shall be briefed by the family crisis team on the dynamics of family violence, including:

indicators of family violence;
prevention activities; and
services available.

4.9 CF schools and organizations responsible for training shall include information on family violence in the training syllabi for medical personnel, chaplains and MP.

5. CAF Response

Immediate Action

5.1 A supervisor who learns of an alleged or suspected incident of family violence in the family of a CAF member shall:

immediately inform the MP or appropriate civilian police authority if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the imminent safety of an individual is at risk;
immediately notify the local child welfare authorities if child abuse or neglect is alleged or suspected;
provide support and encourage the victim to seek out further help through a recommendation to accept a referral to the family crisis team or appropriate civilian service;
direct that a CAF member, who is alleged or suspected of having committed family violence, contact the team leader of the family crisis team; and
inform the CO if the matter is likely to impact on the service of the CAF member.

5.2 When a CO learns of an alleged or suspected incident of family violence in the family of a CAF member, legal advice should be sought from the unit legal advisor in order to determine if the CAF or a civilian authority has jurisdiction in respect of the incident.

Follow up

5.3 The family crisis team shall conduct an assessment and follow-up of reported cases of family violence.

Administrative Action

5.4 The CO shall determine whether administrative action is to be taken in accordance with applicable regulations and orders with respect to a CAF member who has committed an act of family violence.

5.5 In taking any administrative action, the CO shall take into account the best interests of the family, the CAF member and the CAF, and shall consult with:

personnel support staff;
the unit legal advisor; and
the family crisis team.

Monitoring and Reporting

5.6 Base/wing commanders and COs shall provide statistical information and data on family violence to D Med Pol to support policy analysis and evaluation. The specifics of the information required and the reporting frequency will be identified in a separate directive to be issued under the authority of the Surgeon General.